The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-06-25


volume of "reminiscences Of the event
full life OF her husband. told by her at
the solicitation OF her friends. She has
been engaged upon il year, and II
viii be given TO tho public in few
weeks. The number of pages will be
about 500. and the printing will be in
the same type and of the same general
character MS the Grant Memoirs. A
glance a the manuscript, which has
kindly been permitted by the publish
crs, Charles L. Webster e Co.. shows
that the author has dwclt particularly
upon the domestic life OF the General
in simple style, but most entertainingly,
and has told many new facts in his ca
reer.
The narrative opens with the begin
ing of their marriedlife. and then relates
~ length their experience in Florida.
where the General was sent in 1856 10
tight the Seminole Indians. and where
Mrs. Hancock was the only woman nj
the post. An account OF the Generals
ride Of POO miles on mule back from
Fort Lcavenworth to California, earlier
in life. Is also given. with extracts of the
journal he kept on the trip. In 1857
they came North from Florida. and
spent several months Washington.
a graphic picture of the social life Of
the capital ut that time and some inter
csting personals are given. "MIss Hair
riet Lane. mistress OF the White House. "
says Mrs. Hancock. with her personal
charms and courly manners. was
univ crsal fayorite, and did great credit
20 Mr.. Buchanan's administration.
Mrs. Davis, wife of the Secretary of
War, Jefferson Davis. whom | well re-
member. was endowed with many re-
markablc qualities that made her omin-
emily fitted TO be- a presiding genius.
and her entertainments brought togcth-
ar the most cultivated class OF Wash
ington society. Mrs. Joe Johnston was
another shining light in that great
capital, "A person OF unusual intelligence.
quick ut fcpartcc. which made her most
fascinating IN conversation. Her charm
ing reunions ere long 10 be remembered
bv those who were admitted in this
charmed circle. Our happiness that
winter was complete when we left
Washington with sincere regret and
the most agreeable impressions. How
well remember General Robert +. Lee,
then n major who was stationed there
mt that time. He was the beau ideal
Of a soldier and gentleman.
AT THE OUTBREAK or THE WAR.
In marked contrast to these days is
the account Of how Mrs. Hancock
found Washington at the outbreak of
the rebellion. when her husband had
just been made u general. She writes;
"In accordance with my husbands
wishes / took house in Washington
for the Winter. that ] might readily
reach him in case he were wounded.
In these soul-stirring days official
and social routine were quite rs exact
ing; indeed. more so than ordinarily.
Washington society was extremely di-
yersified. frivolous aud prctentious, diff
fcring materially from the brilliant as
scmblics that had grnced the capital
city in earlier days. One Of the princi-
pal events oi that Winter WAS very
exclusive bnll, given by Mrs. Lincoln
Mt the White House. Such m limo
walton upon established customs sub
ioctcd her 20 severe criticism from
every quarter. Mrs. Lincoln was con
graduated upon the spirit of indcpend-
ence which she inaugurated in the Exc
cutive Mansion. and which should have
found place there long before. She
had the courage to emancipate herself
from the limited routine of action and
habit prescribed for our presidents and
their wives by the populace. who re-
ligiously believed that the whole csiab-
lishmcnt. including the body and soul
of the President, belonged to them"
The invitations were TO be limited 60
the Cabinet. the Senate. tho Diplomatic
Corps and the major generals of the
army. and Brigadier General Hancock
AMI bis family were the only exceptions.
This was not understood 10y ourselves
or our friends until explained to me
by Mrs. Lncoln. who expressed
her qualification nj the oppor-
tnnity which enabled her 10 return the
hospitality and attention that her
sister aud other members of
her family had received from
ms mOthcr upon different occasions
when they wcrc visiting St. Louis.
A a